Tag: bodyboard

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Week in Action Episode 1

After I finished my radio show, many people asked for more and its taken a while to get myself around what I wanted to do next. Starting this week a new series of web shows will start hitting the blog and my timelines, starting with episode one of, Week in Action.

What is the new show?

Essentially I am going to give you guys a weekly show that covers my favorite web videos of the week in the world of action sports. Covering all the sports and from documentaries to plain, old full tilt action videos

What else can you expect?

Joining the weekly video show, will be live interviews with some of the biggest names in action sports on a separate show, called “Between two blocks of sex wax” and bend the scenes looks at some of South Africa and the World’s biggest X events.

This week’s Video

Here is Episode one of “Week In Action”.

Check out the Featured Videos

Three Ride – A summer day where 3 of the baddest Action Sport athletes, Pat Casey (BMX), Axell Hodges (Moto) and Trey Wood (Skate) meet up to make a southern Cali backyard masterpiece entitled #ThreeRide – By Dirt Shark and Monster Energy

Wind – This is the First of the Element Series: WIND
We are looking to create 5 short films filmed throughout the year that would showcase South Africa, the coffee culture, bodyboarding and what we have to offer. Why we called it “The Elements” is due to the harshness of the environment in SA and Namibia. Desert like areas, warm weather, hot winds, strong off shores as well as the impending danger of sharks along the coast. – By: Iain Campbell and We Bodyboard

Monster Mentality – Josh Sheehan
Humble beginnings have never harnessed FMX legend Josh Sheehan. The Aussie simply doesn’t set barriers within his motocross challenges, allowing him to pull off one of the biggest tricks in action sports history – the world’s first triple backflip on a motorcycle. With his mental and physical toughness, Sheeny is able to overcome his fears while partaking in one of the world’s most dangerous sports and stay competition-ready at all times. – By: Monster Energy

The Dock 2 – Four of the world’s best surfers and one two-ton floating platform that “whips like a fu**ng viper.” This is The Dock 2.0
With Chippa Wilson, Eithan Osborne, Dion Agius and Noa Deane.
In Salina Cruz, Mexico. – By: Stab Magazine & Monster Energy

TESORO ENTERRADO – Torren Martyn
The waves we had down there were absolutely incredible, sort of mind boggling at times. It’s humbling the energy in the ocean and the way the sand and currents dictated where and what waves we surfed. They were there one day and gone the next. I think that was the beauty of it too, we didn’t really have any expectations or too much of a plan, things just fell in to place and I wouldn’t change a thing.
By: needEssentials & Torren Martyn

Torren Martyn – TESORO ENTERRADO – Full Film from needESSENTIALS on Vimeo.

Support the Show

I hope you enjoyed the first episode and if you liked it please subscribe to my youtube channel and blog! The more subscriptions, the better I can make the show.

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Between the Lines – a cinematic portrait of an oceanic love affair

Sacha Specker contemplating his domain.

This is one incredible short film

First off you need to know that, yes, I am friends with both parties here. I have known the cinematographer, Jason Hearn, for more long than either of us care to mention, as it gives our ages away. I have also known Sacha for an incredibly long time. That does not change how I feel about this film, In between the lines, which even if I did not know them, I would be raving about. Its simply glorious.

Sacha Specker is a waterman and a genius

What most of the world knows about Sacha Specker “Spex” is that he is a 2 time bodyboard world champion. So yes, he absolutely kills it on a bodyboard. What most don’t know, is that he pretty much kills it on any surf craft. In fact he probably could have been a professional surfer if he chose so. Its not unheard of to see him out charging on his bodyboard, ruling the lineup, then switching to a tiny fish surfboard and still ruling the lineup. On top of that, he is probably the most proficient when he picks up his camera gear and heads into the ocean. His images are simply mind blowing effigies to a love of the salty brine.

Jason Hearn has captured the sole of Spex

In this film, Between the Lines, Jason Hearn has managed to capture the sole of his subject. It encapsulates and portrays Sacha’s love for the ocean and his drive to capture all its moods. His drive is to capture waves in their most divine and random form, that which makes them waves. The film captures this, nay it celebrates it and this is why you should watch it right now! I guarantee it will make an impact on you.

Watch Between the Lines

Between the Lines from Jason Hearn on Vimeo.

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African Fire – Episode 2 – Bodyboarding in Africa

One thing I can tell you from hanging with bodyboard crew, is that it is not about the quality of the wave, or making it as such, but about how bloody heavy it was. These guys smaak a deep, mutant pit, whether they make it or not. Michael is one of the top young film guys coming through the ranks and he spent a year following our top guys around the west coast of South Africa. Great footage, rad music and some mal pits!

Derevko presents AFRICAN FIRE – Episode 2 from Michael Veltman on Vimeo.

“This year has been a blur of long car drives and pumping waves. We started filming at the beginning of 2016 and scored every corner of the cape as well as up in Namibia (unfortunately didn’t get too much footage up there cause I was too busy surfing haha).

With the African Fire series I’ve tried to capture the passion Allan Horton has for riding and chasing waves. He’s definitely missioned in the cape harder than any guy I know. He’s constantly checking the charts, amped to be on any swell that pops up. African Fire was the name chosen to describe the series because of the fire inside him, and so many other underground bodyboarders in the Cape, that ignites when it comes to bodyboarding. Not even work or the financial burden of it all stopped him from chasing a swell and him driving myself, Nik Martin and Tsevi Rosenthal for 24 hours up to Namibia in his Bantam bakkie. Haha that was definitely the gnarliest trip we did.

Allan and I chased swells so hard this year and definitely got our fair share of amazing sessions (as well as our fair share of skunkings) but in the end it’s all worth it and 2016 has been such a good year! Keep a look out maybe there’ll be an episode 3 in 2017.”

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The King of the Skeleton – Andre Botha

Why would I put a picture of a man running up a beach for a post on the best left tube in the world? If you have ever been to Skeleton Bay for a solid swell, you will know that what I write here is the absolute, honest truth – Andre Botha is the man at the Namibian freight train. He will literally ride a 100 waves all day long, he does not stop, he goes deeper than anyone and he runs back up the 3km point after every wave. He is almost not human! Watching him both inspires, blows your mind and makes you feel somewhat like a pussy. That is why I chose the image I did for this post, because while every other person is dragging their board back, fighting the worst wetty chafe of their lives and takin a breather, Andre Botha is going full tilt!

You will think 7 minutes a wee long for an online edit, but as I did, you will feel like this video is over in the blink of an eye. So enjoy!

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The Tand grinds in 2016 – Video Highlights

South Africa has some of the best bodyboarders on the planet and amongst those standouts is a wave, called the Tand. For the last few years the boys have held the, Tand Invitational, with all our top riders charging this mean, almost dry rock slab up the west coast. This year the conditions were perfect and made for some super entertaining viewing!

Sacha Specker was on fire from the starting buzzer at the Sniper SA Tand Invitational 2016, boosting big back flips and showing true control in the bigger barrels available. Spex was awarded an impressive total of 19.83 points out of a possible 20, riding every wave in the final like the Champion he has proven himself to be.

The Sniper SA Tand Invitational 2016 ran to completion on Sunday the 10th of July 2016, in 4-6 feet waves. Competitors, and the 300 spectators alike, were greeted with warm weather, clean offshore winds, and groomed swell unloading off the Tand reef. The first two heats of the day were slow due to the higher tide, causing the first upset of the day, with 2015 Tand Champ, Michael Ostler, bowing out early and ending the tradition of back-to-back wins set by past Tand champs Jared Houston and Tristan Roberts.

The final was an incredible showdown with the draining tide playing its part. Hot on Specker’s heels was 2 times World Champion, Andre Botha, as well as Cape Town charger, Charles Pass. Botha and Pass both scored in the excellent range with big maneuvers and deep barrels, earning Pass a second place with 17.5 points, and Botha a third place with 16.5 points out of a possible 20. The youngest participant of the final, Wilder Schultz, performed extremely well throughout the event, but just could not get the waves he needed, which resulted in his 4th place finish.

This year’s Shaggy Choice Award was a tough call between Aden Kleve’s big closeout barrel, and Andre Botha’s madman commitment. In the end though, the Shaggy’s Choice Award for 2016 went to Andre Botha, for going over with the falling lip on one of the crazier waves of the day.

The Sniper SA Tand Invitational was proudly presented by Zion Wetsuits SA, in association with Digicape, Pick n Pay, Flatmountain Roasters, Kingdom Longboards, and Surf Ears ZA. With a massive thanks to Red Bull South Africa, for their continued support and commitment.

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Cape Bodyboarders going buck Wild

Cape Town has always had a solid bodyboard crew, who just love to charge big, heaving pits. One of the guys documenting, charging and pushing the crew is, Simon Heale. Over the last few months he has put together a good segment of action from around the land, with some of the Cape’s best talent charging. Check out the video…

Then we have one of my guys from Llandudno, Jaco Loubser. He has always charged, but felt trapped in his corporate existence, so he he packed up and hit the road to Indonesia and the Philippines, went a little feral, scored insane waves and somehow managed to document it all. Check his video…

Now go out there and charge!

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Boogie Man – Andre Botha slays monsters on the North Shore

When you meet Andre Botha, your first impression is a very quiet and almost distant person, then as you spend more time with him you realise he is not distant, simply focussed on the next heaving mass of water he plans on entombing himself in. The guy feeds off heavy water. On a long day at Donkey Bay, where everyone else is taking the 3km walk back as slow as possible, Andre spent the day running back up the point and charging right back down again. In this video he spends as much time on the foam ball in serious Hawaiian waves as possible, literally the only thing that knows the feeling he does must be the corn kernel caught in your drunken nights projectile vomit, he gets spit out that hard, that often. Its just terrifying madness and thats why he is called, the Boogie Man.

Boogie Man from Andre Botha on Vimeo.

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Viva Jared Houston Viva – 2015 Bodyboarding World Champion

If you were up late last night you may have noticed Jared Houston’s name popping up all over your Facebook timeline. This is not because he is such a nice guy, dashingly handsome or has loads of mates (All of which are true), but because our favorite Bodyboarder has won the 2015 APB Tour. That is right, we have a new World Champion South Africa! Jared had to sit on the beach after an early knock out in Puerto Rico. Reunion bodyboarder, Amaury Lavernhe, just had to make the Quarters to take the title, but luckily for Jared’s fingernails and our nerves, he got knocked out by an on fire Jacob Romero.

So stoked for Jared! I hope you all celebrate today and go leave our Safa champion a message – https://www.facebook.com/jaredhoustonSA/?fref=ts

2015 APB World Tour | Champions

Men: Jared Houston (RSA)
Women: Alexandra Rinder (GER)
Pro Junior: Socrates Santana (BRA)
Drop-Knee: Dave Hubbard (HAW)

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Passing Through – Bodyboard Film trailer

This looks pretty sick, with some incredible locations and serious waves!

Le Boogie Magazine’s debut film – Passing Through – is an experimental bodyboarding film documented over 2013. It features a cast of radical hell men tearing up all manner of majestic waves around the globe including Brazil, Japan, NZ, Java, Portugal, Tahiti and around Oz. Purchase the hard cover book and DVD through the website at leboogie.com/shop
STARRING – Nick Gornall, Tom Rigby, Pierre Louis Costes, Jared Houston, Jase Finlay, Dallas Singer, Jake Stone, Michael Novy & Sam Bennett

PASSING THROUGH – OFFICIAL TRAILER from le Boogie Magazine on Vimeo.